Owners of heritage listed properties are invited to share in grants totalling $1.222 million to assist with urgent conservation works.

Properties listed in the State Register of Heritage Places and those that have been under assessment for inclusion in the State Register for five years or more are eligible for a grant under the scheme.

The grants program, overseen by the Heritage Council of Western Australia, offers funding for grants of up to $100,000, including conservation plans to help guide works.

Last year, 13 metropolitan and 10 regional places shared in grant funding which, when combined with the owner contributions, generated more than $3 million in conservation works.

The Heritage Council’s grants program is one of the few grants programs in Australia that assists private owners with the costs associated with maintaining heritage places.

Since the Heritage Grants Program’s inception in 1997, more than 760 heritage projects have received grants totalling $19.5 million.

Applications for the 2018-19 Heritage Grants Program are open until 12pm on Wednesday August 8, 2018.

Comments attributed to Heritage Minister David Templeman:

“Our heritage tells the story of Western Australia to the world.

“By encouraging owners of private properties to invest in their homes or businesses will help ensure the long-term viability of our State’s cultural heritage, promote local jobs and heritage tourism.

“Last year’s funding helped conserve significant building exteriors and interiors, with many projects also improving the structural stability of our historic heritage buildings.

“The projects ranged from small scale projects at private residences to larger scale projects at some of Western Australia’s landmark historic buildings. The West Australian Rowing Club, where we are today, is one of these places, with the club seeking assistance to conserve its boat shed last year.

“The WA Rowing Club boat shed is the only surviving building on the Perth Swan River foreshore from the first 100 years of the colony, when river activities were a focus for the business and recreational life of the city.

“The boat shed still houses the West Australian Rowing Club, who are celebrating their 150th anniversary as a club this year. It is truly rare to find a building in continuous use like this, and demonstrates an exemplary commitment by the club, throughout difficult financial times, to maintain the building and keep the rowing club going.

“As recently as 2014, the club faced an uncertain future with the launch deck considered an uninsurable risk. The Heritage Council’s support of a refurbishment project in 2014 saw the structure upgraded to modern standards, ensuring the club could operate safely into the future, while also breaking many myths about heritage conservation in the process.

“Demand for heritage grants is consistently high, so I encourage private owners to contact the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage at http://www.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/grants for assistance with their grant applications so they have the best possible chance of securing funding.”